Charlotte Kool (Team dsm-firmenich) made it two in a row at the Baloise Ladies Tour winning the stage 1 sprint in Zwevegem and extending her overall race lead.
Emma Norsgaard (Movistar) was second on the day with Lucinda Brand (Lidl-Trek) taking third in the group sprint after the peloton caught the last rider of the day's breakaway in the closing kilometres of the race.
“The team were very strong today as we controlled the peloton perfectly to prevent any dangerous breakaways," Kool said after her win. "In the finale the girls did an amazing lead-out, so this victory is for them.”
The stage 1 route of 119km offered the field a large circuit followed by shorter finish circuits in Zwevegem. In the opening 15km of the rainy start, the riders crossed a 2km section of cobblestone on the Varentstraat, all safely across and no early moves on the taking. Team dsm-firmenich rode at the front of the peloton and controlled the race, chasing down several attacks.
It was not until 45km to go that Anniek Mos (GT Krush Rebellaese Pro Cycing) sparked a move that stuck for a solo effort. With 32km to go she was joined by Aniek van Alphen (Fenix-Deceuninck).
They stayed away and gained more than 50 seconds across the next 17km until Van Alphen accelerated on her own and dropped Mos. A few kilometres later the break ended and the peloton was ready for a bunch sprint.
In the final kilometre on a narrow road and a 90-degree left-hand turn, several riders slid out and crashed. Pfeiffer Georgi sailed safely through on the inside in the leadout for Kool, who finished if off with a back-to-back victory.
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